On February 25, RSC Chairman Emiliano Stornelli took part in the round-table “Immigration and Integration: Open Questions”, at the Italian Chamber of Deputies in Rome. During the session “Radicalization and Security: Understanding the Italian Scenario Today”, he had the opportunity to highlight several critical points, summarized below:
– The link between jihadist radicalization in Europe and immigration, both regular and irregular in their various forms, is undeniable. In 2017, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs warned: “There will come a day that we will see far more radical extremists and terrorists coming out of Europe because of lack of decision-making and trying to be politically correct”, referring directly to European immigration policies.
– Jihadist terrorist groups like IS persistently encourage young people of non-European descent to take action. In early February, IS openly called for “killing Christians in Europe” and, shortly after, attacks occurred in Germany and Austria. Even if the perpetrators were not acting under direct orders from IS leadership or cadres, the group’s relentless propaganda serves as a powerful source of inspiration and incitement.
– The list of “successful” jihadist terrorist attacks in European countries such as France, Germany, Austria, and the UK, continues to grow. To date, Italy has been spared, but the threat remains serious as shown by repeated arrests, convictions, and expulsions. Notably, those involved are young, “second-generation” individuals legally residing in Italy, and not asylum seekers or marginalized youth. They speak Italian, attend school, have jobs, and enjoy full rights and freedoms, with women increasingly taking on leadership roles.
– Despite their non-disadvantaged position from a socio-economic perspective, psychological and sociological factors can play a role in the radicalization process of these youths, and the so-called “identity conflict” is one of the most common. These factors are exploited by IS as conducive to indoctrination and recruitment, especially through social media platforms. This calls for enhancing early warning methods and awareness campaigns, while actively engaging families in prevention efforts.
– However, radicalized “second generation” individuals make up a small minority and represent just the “tip of the iceberg” of a far broader phenomenon, which is the “systemic advance of Islamist militancy” in Italy, a trend which mirrors what has happened and continues to unfold in other European countries.
– A large number of “second-generation” individuals (at least hundreds of thousands, among undergraduate and graduate students, young professionals, workers), are engaged in relentless propaganda and proselytism activities as affiliates or sympathizers of organizations and movements that promote an Islamist supremacist agenda. They are not “radicalized” in the sense of undertaking the “Jihād by the Sword”, but they focus on ideological dissemination efforts. This form of activism, traditionally referred to as “Jihād by the Word”, “Jihād by Knowledge”, or “Jihād by the Pen”, is carried out through social media and public advocacy. In doing so, they exploit freedoms of speech and religion ensured by the rule of law to advance their objectives in Italy.
– The Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists are the two main Islamist strands involved (although not the only ones). The Muslim Brotherhood has developed a vast and well-structured network of young militants and leading “influencers”, who are becoming ever more influential in academic, media, and political circles, coherently with the “political Islam” brand. Their rise is being enabled also by the support of forces and figures belonging to the leftist camp of the politico-ideological spectrum. Here is why they insist on using leftist slogans, narratives, and terminology (i.e., multiculturalism, right to citizenship, inclusivity), while flirting with Marxism-Communism and labeling any opponent or critic as a fascist or an Islamophobe, as instrumental allegations. This deliberately calculated (and manipulatory) approach allows them to gain legitimacy and further their agenda within these spheres, as a way to penetrate into the system as a whole.
– For now, Salafists have shown no interest in politics or gaining influence in the “mainstream”. On the other hand, they are strengthening their media outreach and visibility for propaganda and proselytism. In parallel, they are expanding their footprint on a territorial level across Italy through new mosques, places of worship, and “cultural” associations.
– One of the results of this widespread “systemic advance of Islamist militancy” in Italy is the striking increase in the number of Italian converts, including women, youths, minors, and teenagers, even kids, with video-recorded conversions becoming a routine spectacle on social media.
– All of this is just a synthetic description of the actual Italian scenario, but it is enough to call for a no longer deferrable reform of immigration policies. In particular, the regulatory framework of the “family reunions” should be significantly reviewed, also to address the mounting plague of the so-called “baby gangs”, consisting of “second generation” youths and “unaccompanied” minors, who have grown into a real and serious domestic security threat. In addition to respecting the right to safety of the Italian citizens, “integration” must be based only on one criterion, namely the authentic acceptance and sharing of local values and culture.
